Closing arguments expected in Buju Banton trial

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in Florida could soon begin deliberating in the trial of a Grammy-winning reggae singer who’s charged with drug conspiracy allegations.

Closing arguments are expected Thursday in the trial of Buju Banton, a 37-year-old Jamaican musician.

Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, testified at his trial Wednesday that the informant called him constantly after they met on a trans-Atlantic flight in July 2009 and insisted they meet to set up a cocaine buy. Banton says he’s ashamed for talking as much as he did about drugs with the informant. But he claims he never intended to deal in cocaine.

Banton is on trial on several cocaine charges for the second time in Tampa federal court. The jury deadlocked in his first trial. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.